Poultry processing hub and belt assembly

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a hub and belt assembly for driving a poultry de-feathering machine and more particularly to a multiple bearing heat dissipating hub driven by a serrated timing belt. The hub assembly incorporates seals along a drive shaft to reduce wear caused by dirt. The timing belt synchronizes multiple picking hubs and reduces the friction driving required. The combination of a heat dissipating hub and the placement of seals along the drive shaft within the hub minimize maintenance and replacement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the following provisionalapplication: U.S. Ser. No. 60/349,526, filed Jan. 18, 2002, under 35 USC119(e)(i).

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of poultry processingequipment, particularly rotational hub and belt assemblies forde-feathering or plucking devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Poultry processing industries commonly use automated lines to kill,eviscerate, pluck and further process birds. Rotational devices aregenerally employed to facilitate continuity of process and to minimizelabor. One of the most common poultry processing machines is a pluckeror de-featherer. For many years devices incorporating a number ofpliable fingers have been utilized to beat and pull the feathers frombird carcasses.

In processing facilities, multiple finger-type plucking devices are usedin sequence to fully pluck a carcass. Typical plucking processesincorporate opposing pairs of finger-typed pluckers which aresufficiently spaced apart to maneuver a bird carcass therebetween.Initial plucking is completed with a pair of spaced-apart finger-typepluckers having a plurality of rigid, spaced-apart fingers. Subsequentplucking of fine feathers is accomplished by passing the bird betweenopposed pairs of pluckers having multiple pliable fingers. Automatedplucking devices are generally used to suspend and move the bird carcassalong a line of opposed pairs of pluckers which depiliate the carcass ofall feathers from course to fine as the carcass travels along theprocessing line.

Typically, the pluckers of a processing line are powered by a motorwhich provides rotational force to each plucker via a chain or beltdrive assembly. Early assemblies utilized a single motor connected toeach plucker hub. This method facilitated accurate control of individualhub speed which is necessary to mesh opposing pairs of hubs and tosynchronize sequential hubs. Due to the high cost of purchasing andmaintaining individual motors, eventually hubs were spaced-apart insequence so that a single motor could be used to drive multiplepluckers. Single drive hub assemblies eliminated multiple motors but hadseveral inherent problems.

Either a V-belt or flat belt is used to transfer the rotational forcefrom the motor to each sequentially aligned hub. Hub drives incorporatea smooth pulley commonly used for drive belt applications. The drivebelts frequently have to be adjusted to maintain the desired, andnecessary pressure and friction between the belt and pulleys to drivethe multiple pickers. Problems exist in that the smooth belts stretchand constant maintenance and attention is required to control the driveforce. Friction from belt slippage also accelerates wear and tear on hubassemblies, belts and motors.

Efforts to remediate the stated deficiencies resulted in a driveassembly which utilized drive chains and hub sprockets rather than beltsand pulleys. This improvement resulted in constant and consistent forcetransferal from the drive source to the hub assemblies. However, it iscommon that the poultry being processed, or the shackles from which birdcarcasses are suspended, become entangled or otherwise disrupt theplucker assembly. When, for instance, a shackle becomes entangled insingle plucker, continual force of the drive source will cause the chainto shear the sprocket of that plucker. Further, problems in the pluckingprocess can result in the jumping, or unwanted movement of the chain inrelation to the sequence of hub gear assemblies. Often, hub gears aremade of hardened plastic in an effort to minimize the cost incurred byshearing of sprocket teeth. These inexpensive systems are prone tofailure and require significant maintenance due, in large part, to theintrusion of dirt, feathers and fecal matter into the moving parts.

Prior to Applicant's invention, the state of the art in the industry waseither the “V” or flat belt technology, or the chain and gear assemblydescribed above. Both of these assemblies require constant maintenanceand adjustment. Because of belt slippage and the friction imparted on ahub assembly by the belt, hubs wear very quickly and must be rebuilt orreplaced on a regular basis. Gear and chain drives require constantmaintenance and because of shackle entanglement in pluckers result inthe shearing of teeth from the sprocket. Further, Applicant's inventionincorporates seals adjacent each bearing which significantly limits theintrusion of foreign matter into the workings of the hub assembly. Thepresence of the seals, along with the configuration of pulleys andbelts, limits required maintenance and component replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a poultry processing machine,particularly a hub and belt assembly such as a feather plucking devicethat facilitates timed rotation of driven members while diminishing wearand breakage commonly associated with such equipment. More particularlythe device is a poultry processing apparatus which comprises a hubhaving a flange portion, a boss portion, a pulley end and a central boreextending therethrough. A hub plate, attachable to the hub, has a flangeportion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore ofthe hub. A drive shaft is mounted transversely through the central boreand hub plate shaft bore; the drive shaft further is provided with apulley end and a spaced-apart drive end. A first bearing is positionedon the drive shaft at the hub plate and a second bearing is positionedon the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and bossportion. A seal is preferably positioned adjacent each bearing and atthe hub plate to effectively prevent foreign matter from wearing thedrive shaft and bearings.

A drive belt is operatively connected to a pulley fastened to the driveshaft at the pulley end and to a spaced-apart drive source. A poultrydefeathering device, such as pliable rubber fingers, is attached to thedrive shaft at the drive end and rotation of the drive belt about thepulley spins the drive shaft in the first bearing, second bearing andthird bearing within the hub housing thereby operatively rotating thepoultry de-feathering device.

Designed primarily for ganged sets of plucking arms, the hub and beltsystem utilizes a heat dissipating hub housing journalled to a driveshaft, preferably with at least two independent sealed bearings, and atiming belt which allows operators to alternate time opposed pairs ofplucker arms to avoid entanglement of the process poultry, hangers andthe plucking heads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of the inventivedevice.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one inventive hub assembly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the inventive hub assembly taken alongline 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hubassembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hubassembly.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the inventivehub assembly.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hubassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides an assembly for efficiently rotating agang of poultry processing equipment. A preferred embodiment of a hub101 and belt 147 assembly for rotating processing equipment is generallyshown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the hub 101 of the present inventionincludes a hub housing 103 having a flange portion 105, a boss portion107 projecting laterally from one side of the flange portion 105terminating at a pulley end 111, and a central bore 109 extendingthrough the flange 105 and boss 107 along the general axis of the hub.Generally, the flange portion 105 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially oriented mounting holes 113 for attaching the hub 101to a machine cabinet 125 with screws or threaded bolts 115. A separatehub plate 117 is mountable to the hub housing 103 at the flange portion105 opposite the boss portion 107. The hub plate 117 has a shaft bore119 aligned with the central bore 109 and is further provided with aplurality of circumferentially oriented hub plate mounting holes 121alignable with the mounting holes 113 of the flange portion 105. It ispreferred that the hub housing 103 and huh plate 117 are manufactured ofmaterial which rapidly and efficiently dissipates heat such as aluminum.

Multiple outer bearing races 129 are formed within the central bore 109,preferably at the pulley end 111 of the boss portion 107, at the hubplate 117 attachment position and adjacent the junction of the flangeportion 105 and boss portion 107. A drive shaft 131 is positionedthrough the central bore 109 of the hub 101 and the hub plate shaft bore119. Multiple inner bearing races 132 are provided on the drive shaft131 coincident with the outer bearing races 129 of the central bore 109and the hub plate shaft bore 119. Sealed bearings 135 and 137 are fittedat each inner race 132 and outer race 129 thereby fastening the driveshaft 131 axially through the central bore 109 and hub plate shaft bore119 while allowing the drive shaft 131 to freely rotate within the hub101. It is preferred that a first bearing 135 is positioned at thepulley end 111 of the hub housing 103, a second bearing 137 positionedsubstantially near the junction of the flange portion 105 and bossportion 107. Additional bearing positions may be used depending on thesize and application of the hub assembly.

Hub seals 139 are positioned on the drive shaft 131 adjacent eachbearing 135 and 137. It is preferred that a seal 139 is also positionedadjacent the hub plate 117 to prevent dirt and debris from invading thejuncture of the drive shaft 131 and the hub plate 117. The combinationof three seals 139 provides a near hermetic seal which eliminatesinvasion of feathers, feather parts, dirt, fecal matter and the likeinto the hub assembly.

The separate hub plate 117 has an insert flange 123 which has an outercircumference equal to the circumference of a machine cabinet opening127 where the hub 101 it to be attached. This insert flange 123 providesa loose seal between the hub 101 and the machine cabinet 125 and furtherdiminishes vibration and wear common in rotating processing equipment.The placement of a seal 139 on the drive shaft 131 at the insert flange123 will significantly limit internal wear caused by the dust, feathersand debris inherent with the depilating process.

A pulley 141 is fastened, via a pulley attachment device 143 at a pulleyend 133 of the drive shaft 131 adjacent the pulley end 111 of the hubhousing 103. The pulley 141 is provided with a plurality of spaced-aparttiming serrations 145. A timing belt 147, which is provided with aplurality of spaced apart serrations 149 which mate to the pulleyserrations 145, connects the drive shaft 131 to a drive mechanism 151.The use of the timing belt 147 and serrated pulley 141 eliminates beltslippage common with poultry processing equipment powered with a flat orV-shaped belt. A second type of timing belt 147, as shown in FIG. 4, maybe used in place of the serrated belt.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pulley 141 can be exchanged with acommon pulley for use of a flat or V-shaped belt if desired, or innecessary situations such as when a timing belt is not available. Ifpreferred, a user can exchange the pulley 141 with a gear 163 which canbe driven with a chain 165 as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, while thepreferred embodiment is described above, the instant invention providesa triple drive option because a user can drive the rotational deviceusing a timing belt 147, flat 162 or V belt 167, or chain 165 byalternating the drive shaft 131 attachment with a serrated pulley 141,common “V”, pulley 169 or flat pulley 161.

A finger plate bore 156 is formed in a drive end 134 of the drive shaft131 opposite the pulley end 133. For a defeathering device, a fingerplate 155 is bolted into the finger plate bore 156. The finger plate 155can be provided with a plurality of plucking fingers, e.g., pluckingfinger 171, as is common in the industry.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the hub end belt assembly is suited to power aseries of driven rotational defeatherers. The drive mechanism 151 and abelt return hub 159 are positioned at opposite ends of a series ofsubstantially aligied hubs 101. A timing belt 147 encircles the drivemechanism 151 and return hub 159 and alternates above and below eachsequential hub pulley 141. It is preferred that at least onespring-loaded tension arm and idler pulley 153 is provided at at leastone hub 101 to independently release belt tension should the fingerplate 155, or any part of the plucker assembly, become jammed.

The series of hub and belt assemblies preferably utilizes a timing belthaving two sides, each side provided with spaced-apart protrudingserrations, and wherein the belt is alternated above and below each ofthe aligned pulleys.

Additional variations and embodiments other than those specificallyenumerated may be made to the hub and belt assembly without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosed invention. Therefore, it isintended that the invention not be limited to this disclosed embodiment,but only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A poultry processing apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced-aparthubs in substantial alignment, each hub journaled to a drive shaft, eachdrive shaft having a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, and adrive end with a finger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers,the finger plate mechanically attached to the drive end thereto; a drivemechanism and; a belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drivemechanism, wherein the belt is a timing belt with two sides havingspaced-apart protruding serrations on each side and each pulley isprovided with spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with theprotruding serrations of the timing belt, and wherein the belt isalternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys; and at least onetension idler arm.
 2. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 1further comprising at least one tension idler arm.
 3. The poultryprocessing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the belt is a timing belt havingspaced-apart protruding serrations and each pulley is provided withspaced apart recessed serrations which mate with the protrudingserrations of the timing belt.
 4. The poultry processing apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the timing belt has two sides, each side provided withspaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein the belt is alternatedabove and below each of the aligned pulleys.
 5. The poultry processingapparatus of claim 1 wherein each hub is journaled to a drive shaft withat least two independent sealed bearings.
 6. The poultry processingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub plate attached at an endof each hub, the drive shaft extending therethrough.
 7. Poultryprocessing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart hubs insubstantial alignment, each hub having: a hub plate attached at an endof each hub, each hub plate having: an insert flange, and a sealadjacent the insert flange, a drive shaft journaled to each of the hubswith at least two independent sealed bearings, each drive shaft having:a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, and a drive end with afinger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger platemechanically attached to the drive end; a drive mechanism; and a beltoperatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism, whereinrotation of the belt about the pulleys spins the drive shaft to rotatethe finger plate.
 8. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7, furthercomprising at least one tension idler arm for releasing tension on thebelt.
 9. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the belt is atiming belt having spaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein eachpulley forms spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with theprotruding serrations of the timing belt.
 10. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 9, wherein the timing belt has two sides, each of thesides forming spaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein the beltis alternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys.
 11. Poultryprocessing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart hubs insubstantial alignment, each of the hubs journaled to a drive shaft, eachdrive shaft having (a) a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, thepulley forming spaced-apart recessions, and (b) a drive end with afinger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger platemechanically attached to the drive end; a drive mechanism; and a beltforming spaced-apart protruding serrations on each side and alternatingabove and below each of the aligned pulleys, wherein the belt serrationsengage the pulley recessions and wherein rotation of the belt spins thepulleys to rotate the drive shaft and the finger plate.
 12. The poultryprocessing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a seal positionedadjacent each hub plate, for preventing dirt and debris from invading ajuncture of the drive shaft and the hub plate.
 13. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 11, the belt comprising a timing belt for alternatelyrotating time-opposed pairs of pulleys, to avoid entanglement of fingerplates associated with the pulleys.
 14. Poultry processing apparatus ofclaim 11, each hub comprising a central bore, further comprising atleast two sealed bearings for rotatably securing the drive shaft axiallythrough the central bore.
 15. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 11,further comprising a hub plate attached at an end of each hub, forjoining the hub to a machine cabinet.
 16. Poultry processing apparatusof claim 15, further comprising a seal positioned adjacent each hubplate, for preventing dirt and debris from invading a juncture of thedrive shaft and the hub plate.
 17. Poultry processing apparatus of claim1, wherein the tension idler arm independently releases belt tensionshould any part of the apparatus become jammed.
 18. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 8, wherein the tension arm independently releasesbelt tension should any part of the apparatus become jammed.
 19. Poultryprocessing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes only asingle belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism.20. Poultry processing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including atleast one tension idler arm.
 21. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7wherein said belt is a single continuous belt operatively connectingeach said pulley and the drive mechanism.
 22. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 7, where the insert flange has an outer circumferenceequal to the circumference of a machine cabinet opening where the hub isto be attached.
 23. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidhub comprises a hub plate and a hub housing.
 24. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 7 wherein said hub further comprises a hub housing,where the hub housing and the hub plate are aluminum.
 25. Poultryprocessing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said hub comprises a hub plateand a hub housing, where the hub housing and the hub plate are aluminum.26. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tension idlerarm is spring loaded.
 27. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 8wherein said tension idler arm is spring loaded.
 28. Poultry processingapparatus of claim 20 wherein said tension idler arm is spring loaded.